May 15th is International Conscientious Objectors Day. Please take a minute today to write to Minister of Immigration John McCallum and Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould. Ask them to let U.S. war resisters stay in Canada.

You can make a difference by sending a brief message today. Here is a sample you can copy and paste into your email. Feel free to edit it or write your own message.

Email addresses to send to:
minister@cic.gc.ca
mcu@justice.gc.ca

You can cc your own Member of Parliament. To find their contact info, click here and enter your postal code.

Sample letter:

Dear Ministers,

May 15th is International Conscientious Objectors Day. I am writing you today to ask that you take this opportunity to resolve the situation of U.S. Iraq war resisters in Canada and allow them to stay in Canada.

Many of these conscientious objectors to the illegal and immoral war in Iraq have been in Canada for 10 years or more. The previous Conservative government interfered in their cases and they have still not had a fair and impartial hearing. I urge you to address this situation by:

– withdrawing Operational Bulletin 202 which singles out U.S. war resisters
– halting the litigation in their cases which was initiated by the Conservative government

Canadians overwhelmingly opposed the Iraq war and want U.S. war resisters to stay, as they did during the Vietnam war. Please to the right thing and move quickly to resolve the unfair handling of these cases by the previous government and let U.S. conscientious objectors stay.

It has been 13 years since the launch of the Iraq war, a war that most nations including Canada refused to be part of. U.S. Iraq War resisters, who refused to participate in this illegal and immoral war, came to Canada seeking refuge much as tens of thousands of people did during the Vietnam War.

If returned to the U.S., they face harsh punishment including long jail terms and felony convictions which will follow them for the rest of their lives. Harper’s Conservative government singled out U.S. war resisters and directly interfered in their cases, denying them a fair and impartial hearing.

Please watch and share this video about the situation they now face and how you can help them to stay in Canada.

Contrary to widespread hopes and expectations for a positive resolution for U.S. Iraq War resisters, the Liberal government is pursuing litigation against them that was initiated by the previous Harper government. The Federal Court hearings are scheduled for April 5 and 6.

We are asking every supporter to immediately email Minister of Immigration John McCallum, at minister@cic.gc.ca and john.mccallum@parl.gc.ca (model message below).

Please include your city and province after your name.

cc Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca

Below is a model email message you can copy and paste – you can send as is, or personalize it:
—-

SUBJECT: U.S. Iraq War resisters – Stop litigation initiated by Harper government

Honourable John McCallum
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
BY EMAIL

Dear Minister McCallum,

I am writing to ask that you immediately cease the litigation initiated by the former Conservative government against U.S. Iraq War resisters.

Our new government should not defend decisions made under the previous government and re-litigate matters the Court has already found on in favour of these conscientious objectors. As you know, Canadians overwhelmingly opposed the Iraq War and the Liberal government under Jean Chrétien made a decision not to participate in it.

The cases to be heard by the Federal Court on April 5 and 6 should be settled, and the matters sent back to be re-determined by new immigration officers.

On 15 February 2003, over 15 million people in nearly 800 cities, throughout 72 countries, marched against the impending war in Iraq. We Are Many tells, for the first time, the story behind and legacy of the biggest demonstration in history.

Shot in 7 countries over 8 years, featuring first hand testimony from organisers and direct participants, We Are Many is a powerful story of resistance to war.

“The only film I have ever watched where the audience started clapping
half way through…” Huffington Post

“It is a powerful and at times moving tribute to organised dissent
and the power of the people… It is admirably watchable and provocative…
Amirani is to be congratulated for this passionate and provocative film.”
Screen Daily / International

Film screening followed by Q&A with WAËL KABBANI, Executive Director of WE ARE MANY.

Suggested donation $10 or pwyc. Proceeds to War Resisters Support Campaign.

Following the federal election, there is hope that there can finally be a positive and speedy resolution to the cases of U.S. Iraq War resisters. Your help is needed to make sure they are allowed to stay in Canada. Watch our new video below and then take a moment to write a letter to your MP in support of war resisters. For more information, see our backgrounder on the situation of U.S. Iraq War Resisters in Canada.

Following the federal election, there is hope that there can finally be a positive and speedy resolution to the cases of U.S. Iraq War resisters. Your help is needed to make sure they are allowed to stay in Canada.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Background: Canadians voted for change and expect the new government to do the right thing and let the war resisters stay. It was the strong response of Canadians that has kept most U.S. war resisters in Canada – and out of U.S. military prison – for the past ten years.

U.S. Iraq War resisters have lived through a decade of unfair political interference in their cases by the previous Conservative government. Some were deported by the Harper government, and received harsh jail sentences in the U.S. for opposing the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq.

The new government should immediately heed the will of the majority of Canadians and stop any and all actions against U.S. war resisters, including halting the litigation against U.S. war resisters, as this litigation defends policies and decisions made by the previous Conservative government.

LET THEM STAY WEEK, Nov. 29 – Dec. 5

During “Let Them Stay Week”, let federal Minister of Immigration John McCallum know that you support a provision to allow U.S. war resisters to stay in Canada, and that you want the current legal proceedings against them to cease.

Sunday November 29 – Profile Picture Day: Change your profile picture in support of U.S. Iraq War resisters, for the duration of Let Them Stay Week.

Monday November 30 – Contact the Minister Day: Watch and share this video and then phone or email Minister John McCallum to urge him to LET U.S. WAR RESISTERS STAY in Canada.

Thursday December 3 – Ten years’ worth of #TBT (Throwback Thursday) to share on social media! : Follow us on Facebook and share, post, disseminate information on Iraq war resisters in your networks.

Friday December 4 – Community Outreach Day: Call your local MP’s office to express your concern; circulate the U.S. war resister petition; post a window-sign at your home, workplace, community or faith organization.

Saturday December 5 – Help fund the Campaign to keep U.S. war resisters in Canada: make a donation to the War Resisters Support Campaign – you can donate online here or send a cheque or money order to: War Resisters Support Campaign, 427 Bloor St. West, Box 3, Toronto, ON CANADA M5S 1X7

Following the federal election, which put an end to the Conservative government, there is hope that there can finally be a positive and speedy resolution to the cases of U.S. Iraq War resisters. The war resisters have lived with unfair political interference in their cases for almost 10 years. Now is the time to let the new government know that Canadians expect them to do the right thing and let them stay!

2) Call, e-mail and write to your Member of Parliament:
To send a letter: address it to your MP, and send to House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

To find out your MP’s email and phone number, you can email info@parl.gc.ca
or call toll-free (Canada): 1 (866) 599-4999.

MP contact details will be up shortly at www.parl.gc.ca, under ‘Members of Parliament’.

Key points to mention:• Resolve this issue swiftly as part of the change promised by the new government
• It is time to fix this issue – end over 10 years of unfair and unjust legal and political actions by the Harper government
• Stop the deportations
• Stop pursuing war resister cases in court, as doing so defends decisions and policies made by the former Conservative government
• Rescind Operational Bulletin 202
• Implement a new Operational Bulletin that restores fairness for all war resister cases and reverses the harm done

Film Screening and DiscussionMonday, March 9, 2015
Dinner 6pm
Film and Discussion 7 pm
25 Cecil Street (near College and Huron)
with special guest RUSSELL BROWN
U.S. peace activist, Upstate Drone War and
Veterans for Peace

In Unmanned: America’s Drone Wars, director Robert Greenwald investigates the impact of U.S. drone strikes at home and abroad through more than 70 separate interviews, including a former American drone operator who shares what he has witnessed in his own words, Pakistani families mourning loved ones and seeking legal redress, investigative journalists pursuing the truth, and top military officials warning against blowback from the loss of innocent life.

RUSSELL BROWN has been active in nonviolent protest at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base near Syracuse, N.Y, from where MQ9 Reaper drones are piloted. On April 28, 2013 he was arrested as he lay down to symbolize the death of drone victims.

A U.S. marine from 1965-1967, Russell testified at his trial that his participation in senseless killing and brutality in Vietnam informed his understanding of the Drone War Program. Russell was acquitted in August 2014.

Join us for this evening of food, film and discussion in support of U.S. war resisters seeking asylum in Canada.